Daniel Sturridge has backed the Liverpool team to cope without Luis Suarez and insists that there are still plenty of goals in the side.

The England international forward featured prominently in his side’s 2-1 opening day win against Southampton, scoring a late winner, and he says that the Reds will continue to score even without Suarez.

The Uruguayan striker left Anfield for Barcelona earlier this summer, after scoring 31 goals last season, but his former strike-partner is convinced that Liverpool have enough quality elsewhere to cover his departure.

"We have shown that we can win games, we can score goals and we defended well - we were just unlucky to concede a goal,” he said. “With players that are producing the goods, we'll be OK this season."

Sturridge also admitted that he is under pressure to continue to score goals after Suarez’s departure last season.

"Of course there's pressure on me to get the goals now," he said. "It's important for me and the other lads to step up.

"It's important, as a collective unit, that we all provide the goals. As long as we score goals and defend well, we'll get the results we need.”

They have started well enough, too, picking up three points from their opening fixture, but their performances will have to improve in the future if they are to match last season’s finish.

The Reds are defending their place in the Champions League, but they looked slightly off the pace on Sunday and Southampton will consider themselves unlucky not have left Anfield with a point.

The Saints, who lost three of their stars to Liverpool this summer, were a match for Brendan Rodgers’ side, but Sturridge’s late finish was enough to secure the victory.

It was a result which relieves some of the pressure on Liverpool this season and one which gives them some momentum to build upon – something which Rodgers has stressed as important.

It wasn’t Sturridge who was most pivotal in the victory, despite scoring the winner, though.

He was outshone by Raheem Sterling, who continues to dazzle in England’s top flight despite his tender years.

The 19-year-old winger scored the Reds’ first, before setting up Sturridge for the winner and the striker was quick to pay testament to his teammate, who is rapidly becoming one of the most highly reputed youngsters in world football.

"Raheem showed his cool head to finish today and he showed it throughout pre-season as well,” Sturridge said. “I'm glad that he has continued the goalscoring into the season. As the manager says, he's improving all the time.”

John Verrall

John is a sports journalism graduate from Staffordshire University. He is a huge football fan and a minute-by-minute writer for UEFA.com, as well as being a freelance writer for Sports New Media. John has also seen his work been published by the likes of The Guardian, World Soccer and Shoot Magazine over the course of his bourgeoning journalism career so far. He has a particular expertise in all things to do with the Football League – and is a passionate Peterborough United fan.